Gum wrapping machine



Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL GUM WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL GUM WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1948 Feb- 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL 2,540,430

GUM WRPPING MACHINE Filed July 17, i948 13 Sheets-Sheet C6` INVENTOR 5 Enr/A FDE CoM/06K A/vn 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. F. CORNOCK ET AL.

GUM WRAPPING MACHINE Feb. 6, 1951 IFiled July 17, 1948 Nw S NOU o o o o m E m E. m m m Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL GUM WRAPPING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 17, 1948 uur Il lllllllllll IIII EDWARD I L BY Emma/1v RoazR anfang' T Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL GUM WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July l?, 1948 Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL GUM WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July l?, 1948 Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET Al.

GUM WRAPPING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed July l?, 1948 Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET Al.

GUM WRAPPING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 Filed July 17, 1948 R u H s I .Ih\\ \Q\IH| mm3 I IV Il I l Tiwy@ I I I I Ammmwm l y n ll ll I|I|l ITI! I I i H w unl I.- n B VTNA E M\ .Q\ H m Q5 5% IIINQ W \,mMQ\ 9@ QM k H NQ E lu www -M.W.--I,I, w WMM N m,%\ QQ @I I MII! INM%\ QQ@ m%\ ||I IKN! W MQ h ..HN a, @l IIL Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL GUM WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July l?, 1948 13 Sheets-Sheet l1 INVENToRs ARnFCoR/roc/r Mag/ nu A ORN Ys www. n 9S Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coR'NocK ET Al.

GUM WRAPPING MACHINE l5 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed July l?, 1948 IIIA lllllllglmlllll Y 'IIIIZ VIII' Feb. 6, 1951 E. F. coRNocK ET AL 2,540,430

GUM WRAPPING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1948 l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR 5 Ewa @E60/Mam mw BY EPA/02075. Raam r6 CLT@ 1- TTORN YS Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED ESTATES OFFICE 'GUM WRAPPINGFMACHIN E -Edward F. Corno'ck and -vF-ranklin fB. Roberts,

\ Springfield, Mass.,

assignors vto Package .Ma-

`chinery Company, EastLongmeadow, Massa-a y corporation of Massachusetts Application-'J lily-117, 1948,'SerialT-No.39,=366

t16 Claims. (01..'.93-45) ;l "..This' inventiontrelates'toarmachinexfor' Wrap-V ;ping; individual 'sticks f-gum.

"One :,objectao'fthe.invention is to Vprov'ide a Y machine'capable ofaccurate'folding'of the-wrap- ."per Ito I form, as i-later described, a completely f 'sealed 'package yand' atthesame timeroperate: at =liigh Speed.

'A 'f-urther object 1 is to provide continuously travelingmeans' for imparting :a vrcontinuous forv4Ward .advancer to the article 'andwrapper' through fthe'f'olding' instrumentalities; but atv Varying'rates -ffl=s.peed, and to provide Wrappingv mechanisms -`capable of operating-'with suchadvancingmeans.

fOther and ""further'-objects r'elatingto "details fof construction and operation contributing to the above result-Will be-madefapparent in fthefolf lovving speci'cationaiid `claims.

'In the accompanying drawings:

'-Fig. '1 is a side elevational -iviewA of a machine rembodying vthe f invention;

` Fig. `2i is la longitudinal verticalfsectional-'view on a' larger' scale fshowing one of the ytwo gum ktfeeding devices;

Fig. -3 is -a sectional 'view' substantially on' line V'Figi 491's aiplanfview with-'thesuperstructure rejfnioved of a portion of the "bed 'of the `machine 'generally corresponding to 'the portion shown; in Fg'm f-Figs. 10 andllf are 'dta-ilsectional viewsl onan enlarged scale substantiallyonlines Ill-'I0 and II-I I respectively ofFj'g! 9; `Fig.'l2`is va longitudinal vertical. section view I :showin-g the `manner'of transferring the partially "wrapped gum "sticks :from one conveyor `to vanother? mFig.V 13 is' aA sectional"view'substantially onV line l A Fig 14 `isa topx plan detailview ofone'ofthe carriersof the second-conveyor 4f-Fig.' l5. is Y'a top plan" detail' view of` the 'seam icaslaaungimdmsi-seetimviewfsnowing :prior .to the cuttin'gftherefrom of -a Wrapper;

.Ithezmechanism for transferring the-.gum sticks Tfromtthe second-conveyor tothe vdischarge con- :veyor:

IFig. Filis-a detail-.view of thefadhesivefapplying imeans;

.-.l -ig. 18fis.a sectional -vi-evv.` substantially onrline Fig 19 is .-.a .fragmentary vertical vsection through stl-1e discharge',mechanismaand articlereceiving chute;

.Figs-f20anda21 aref-sectional :detail -viewsf `substantiallyon1ines 2li-20 and :2 I-"2 I respectively 0f Fig., 22is an-elevationalview rof '1afragment'fof the 4combined f-Wrapperfand tearing strip web;just

Figs.23 to1z40; inclusiveare det-aildiagrammatic =views:.showing 1 the successive folding operations;

Figs 4541, 42 zand 43 are f' diagrammatic views :showing the manner:rif-discharging the wrapped ,':gum 4sticks fronrthe :third rconveyor v to the article 4'receivir-ig: schute; "and VFig.4411seadetail viewfshowingan alternative form of package.

`Referring fto.` Fig. ':1 of the drawingsitheioper- :ative members'fare shownsupportedby amachine framefstructure generally indicated :at I Supf*ported on the iframe F I v"are axpairof Vgum "feed ridevices generally:Y in'dicated'i-at" `2 ,fa 'wrapper "feed- *ingimechanism at 'housings 41andf5 enclosing tcertain-wrapping instrumentalities and fan'article :receiving chute generally'indicated at `6, alllfof f'which mechanisms and' instrumentalities Willzlater be fully described. Generallyindicated'iatTis a wrapper web supply and at 8:a housing enclos- `ing means for-.assembling atearing strip withthe Wehr-and applying a suitable pressure 'sensitive eadhe'sive; such7 aseWaxg-itothel assembled Webfand istrip. "Since-the specic''form of 'thesefdevices fare notf essential parts of the present invention, i'further :disclosure or -ldescription thereof f is not rdeemed necessary.

The construction oftherst ofi the lgum'ffeeding 'devices' is' shown in Figs.l "2 and qI?;""tl1e'1seconcl gum feeding device being exactly similar, the' 'delscription of one-will'su'ffice 'for' both. As there shownlal'vertical magazine-'19 for the gum-'sticks I0 -is supportedY bya housing I I mounted bymeans lof screws-I2'v tofthe fram-e I. "Within the' housing arejournaleda'pair of shafts I3 and' I4 each'car- `-ry-ing fspaced sprockets I about which engage fsprocketchainsfl. EXtending between' and car- 'f'rie'dby'thechains Hi` (FigsZ and 4) area pluraliwrapper are. sealed together, they pressure of rolls 69 and4 T0 being adjusted tof the needs of the particular adhesive employed.

As shown. in. Figs. 5 and 8 theA rolls 58-59 and 69-10 are driven from a gear 16 which meshes with a gear secured on. a shaft 18.. Gear drives a gear 'I9 secured to an idler` shaft 8.0` to which is secured a second gear 8|. Gear 81| meshes with gears 82: and 83 respectively carried by shaft 84 of rolls 58 and shaft 85 of rolls 69. Shaft` T8 carries a second gear 8.6V which meshes with gears Bland 80 respectively carried. by shaft 89 of rolls 59 and shaft; 9,0. of' rolls 10. Gear 16 receives power from the maindrive of the machine as later described..

f As in the case. of surfaces 63 and 69 of rolls 58 and 59', the surfaces of rolls B9 and 'I0' make a rolling contact with the wrapper end extensions substantially in the plane of the` upper surfaceof the gum stick. As the articles reenter the wrapping channel the underside of the end extensions of the wrapper are engaged by end creasers 9| (Figs. 9 and 29)' which hold the wrapper against the end of the gum stick and assure a clean break of the wrapper substantially in the plane of the upper surface of the latter` as the upper surface of the endl extensions are engaged by stationary folders 92 (Figs. 9', I0, 30 and 31) which fold the end extensions downwardly over creasers 9| into position to be engaged by stationary folders93 which turn the downwardly extending wrapper ends inwardly andupwardly against the underside of the partially wrapped gum and trailing portions of the wrapper, as shown in Figs; 32 and 33.

Up to this stage of the wrapping operation the pushers have maintained their engagement with the trailing edges 'ci the gum sticks and thev pushers are partially enclosed within the wrapper which has now been folded over theupper and lower faces, the forward' edge face and the end faces of the gum stick. As shown in Figs. 12, 14 and 16 the so partially wrapped gum sticks are transferred to a second conveyor ygenerally indicated at 94. Y l Conveyor 94| comprises spaced double sprocket chains 95 which travel around rear sprockets 9E and' 9i', upper and lower intermediate sprockets 98`- Fig. 12), and forward sprockets 99 (Fig. 16). Cross-members are rigidly connected at their ends tov a link of the chains as atj |0|`, Figs. 13 and 14 andv are formed with rearwardly extending arms |92 carrying guide rolls |03 traveling in guide channels |04 after rounding sprocketsA 91. Each cross member |00 is formed `with downwardly and rearwardly extending *projectionsv |05 which form the upper membersfof article receiving pockets generally indicated at |06'. The lower' pocket members are formedgby rearwardly directed angular lingers |01 extending from a bar |08 secured to the forward face rofv each cross member |00 and spring iingersf |09 extending from a bar IIe. The free ends of fingers |09 are bent upwardly and forwardly overrthe ends of member |07 and terminate in projections I' engaging in recesses H2 in cross members |00. The bar portions |98 and |I0 are secured to the cross members by a bar |3 and screws] I4,

As cross members |00 round *the sprocket 91 the pocket members |06 swing into iinterproxi'mal relation with the pushers 29 and the partially wrapped gum sticks being advanced thereby. The rolls |03. which travel in gui'dewaysv |04 maintainthe. pockets in'. the planeet-the gum sticks. Conveyor 94 travels ata slbwer'speed 6 thanathe conveyor 34 and as the pockets'` |06 are overtaken by the' pushersl 29I the pushersfintroduce the partially wrapped gum sticks, into the pockets.- and against the projections |.|.I as best shown in Fig. 12. The springngers |09 yield as the gum sticks are introduced into the pockets as shown in Fig. 34, but return to' aposition with projections |I|v engaging the. trailing wall of recesses ||2, Fig. 35', when the pushers withdraw thus accurately positioning' the articles in the pockets. As the transfer of; the gum stick to the pocket is completed the chains and the pockets |05 carried thereby turn upwardly around sprockets 98'. The chains 95 are drivenat a uniform rate but because of the projection of the pockets fromthe chain a relative increase in the speed of the pockets takes place as the pocketsl swing upwardly in. an arc around. the sprockets 98. As a result of this temporary increase in the speed of the pockets. the trailing wrapper portions areY drawn clear of the pushers 29 which. then turn downwardly around.. the sprockets 36 without possibility' of damageto the trailing wrapper. Immediately after the conveyor 94 passes over the sprocketsv 98 rolls. |03 enter a second pair of guideways I |5 which again maintain the pockets in a horizontal plane'. While the pockets are so held the members |00 pass between presser' rolls I6. andy IIT, carried on shaftsr I|8 and ||9 respectively, and extending transversely of the path. of travel ofthe articles.

Rolls ||6 and Ill' are cut away at |20 and' I 2|.toA

permit the passage between them of `themembers |00 and pockets |06. The surface of roll II is provided with. pressure ribs |22 formed ofY hard fiber or the like which engage and press the trailing wrapper extensions. againstthe surfaces |23 of roll H8. The leading edgesl |24' of the ribcarrying portions of rollv I|1 crease the wrapper upwardly over the trailing edge surfacek of the gum stick, as best shown at |25 in Figs. 3'5.- and 36,v in advance of the application of pressure by the ribs |22. The ribs are positioned to engage the wrapper opposite the transverse portions' of the printed adhesive 43 which portions: are positioned opposite each other on the adjacentv inner faces of the wrapper. Thus inthe presence of the adhesive 43 the sealing of the wrapper is completed.

As shown in Figs. l2 and l5 the lower' presser roll II is rotatably mounted on its shaft I- |'9 and is driven. by a chain |26 passing around a sprocket I2`| secured to a hub |28 extending from one end of the roll. The ends of shaftl I|9 are bolted at |29 to spring arms |301 secured by bolts |31- to blocks |532 mounted on lugs |33 extendingv from'machine frame Vmembers |34. The upper faces of spring arms I Sli adjacent their free ends and forwardly of shaft IIB: are engaged byv stop screws'|'35'adjustably` threaded in lugs |36- extending from frame members |34. TheV under surfaces of' arms |30 are similarly engaged intermediate blocks |32 and shaft ||9 by stop screws |-3T adjustably threaded inlugsA |38 extending from frame members |34. As will be apparent byk adjusting screws |35 and |3`1'the pressure exerted between ribs `|22-and surfaces |23'l may be adjusted. F

Beyond the presser rolls IIB and ||1 the partially' wrapped gum' sticks are carried over a rotary', adhesiver applying device which applies spaced spots of adhesive |39 (Fig. 36) tothe face of.' the under portion of the wrapper. The adhesive applying device best-.shown in Fgszmlfd, 17 and-3T. comprises ai-iltaitjemexnberf-l40" secured pnsliers to pockets los, and from trie pockets 6 to pockets |50 by the transfer lingers |63 tiiepiislier, pockets and fingers all maintain a continuous, individual uniform movement in the saine `direction, the transfer being effected by the relative speed of the'meibers'. 1 Whilethe machine is particularly adapted to the application of a wrapper having a printed pressure sensitive adhesive border by which 'a completely sealed package is obtained, an un` printed short wrapper, s lich as shown at 238 in Fig.` 44,v may be used if desired, the spots o f adhesive |39 supplied by the machine itself being tlie only adhesive used.

What we claim is:

1. In a wrapping machine, -a continuously traveling pusher for advancing' an article edge- Wise againsta wrapper to fold the latter transversely about the forward edge of the article with a portion of the wrapper trailing the ar; ticle in overlapping relation with the pusher, a conveyor traveling at a uniform speed less than tile; speed of the pusher, an article receiving 'pocket extending from the conveyor and moving fora portion of its travel in alignment with and' in'advance of the pusher, to receive the partially wrapped article from the pusher, and means to change the direction of travel of Athe conveyor to swing the pocket in an arc to thereby tem"- poia'rily increase'its speed'relative to the pushery and free the trailing wrapper portion from the pusher.

2'. a Wrapping Iri'aolliile, a c'oiii'iiiiliiiSIyL traveling conveyor for advancing an article edge wise against a wrapper to fold tlie latter transe' versely about the forward edge of the article with portions of the wrapper extending 'sidewise from the ends and rearwardly from the rear edge' of the article, Iilear'ls to' fold the SideWiSe extending'po'rtions of the wrapper' over the ends of the' article, a second continuously traveling con= veyor having an article receiving pocket into which the partially wrapped article is delivered by the rst conveyor, means to fold a rearwardly extending portion of the wrapper against the rear edge of the article, means' to fold the trail-v irigportion of the wrapper at right angles to the plane of the article, a third continuously trav= elirig conveyor having an' article receiving pocket opening forwardly' and rearwardly, means to transfer the article rearwardly from tl'le pocket ofthe second conveyor into ythe pocket of `thel thirdconveyor' through its forward opening to complete the wrapping of the article and means' toeject the article from the pocket` of the third conveyor throiigh its rearward opening.

v3". In a wrapping machine', an article advance ing conveyor carrying av forwardly extending cantilever pusher, means to deliver' an article into position to be advanced by the pusher, means to f ee`d wrapper across the patri of travel of th' pusher, a Wrapper; channel: having' Stationary indico iiiiiiei and idwi iiiiiibeis to 'fold tlie 'titte-rain lower portions of 'wrapper rearwardly over th lippr and lower faces of the article and adjacent portions of tl'i psher witli'portions of the lwrapper extending outwardly from the ends of the article means positioned `at the sides of the folding cl'iann'el to fold the leading corners of tl'leend extensions f the Wrapper at right angl'est'o and then rearwardly against the end extensions, 'and means to fold said extensions and so folded corners against one face of the article, a traveling V pocket into which the par; tially 'wrapped article is inserted by the pusher', means to fold the trailing portionof the wrapper at right angles to the article and ineans'to dis;v cl-arg the 'article frorn the traveling pocket and simultaneously fold tl'i' trailing portion Vof tile wrapperv onto a face of th article.

4. In a wrapping machine having means for' advancing ,an ar'ticlead its Wrapper 'into a wrapping channel to initially fold the wrapper over theiorward and upper and lower faces of the article with portions of the wrapper extending endwis said faces, pairs if rolls pesitioned iii the patli of advance of the extend s' end portions of trie wrapper, said rollsj having spaced peripheral portions making a rolling eil-Y giageiiiiit with tlie end exteiis'idris of the wrapper in the' 'plane of one of the; twdlast-ndiiied fades of the article to fold the end portions of the wrapper 'which extend from the' opposite' face against the 'ends of 'the article, one roll of eacii pair liav'inga prdjecti engaging tile forward corner portion of the adjacent end extension of tlie wrapper to fold the latter over'the leading edge of the peripheral portion of th DDOSit roll at substantially a right angle to the plane of the' end 'extension of the wrapper.

5. In a wrapping machine having' ians for advancing an article edgewise against a wrapper to initially fold the wrapper over' the Yforti/ard' and upper and lower' faces of the article with por tions or the wrapper' extending endvvisje from` tlie end ptrtidns of the' wrapper which extend; from the opposite face' against the ends of tli article, lone roll of eacli pair having a projection engaging the ciflir pitiOll 0f the adjacent end extension of trie td fold tli latter overtiieladiiig edge of the' peripheral por; tion of the opposite roll at substantially a right angle l'iO the' Dlae f lille' lld eXtl'Siil 0f tl' wrapper, neans for folding the said corner' portiO'rl'S reaiwaidlyagaist th ld X'l'SQi the wrapper', and pairs f sidriiigvpressed rolls] engaging the so folded end extensions of the Wrapper to s'e'a'l the extiidig'- end portions Ofi trie wrapper together Aifi the presence of pressure sealing material dii the adjacent fates di trl engaged portions df tliefwraiiiv'r.

6. ln s wrapping iiidchi'iiehaviiigiiieaiis fr advancing an article edgewise against a wrapper to ii'l'illiall foldy the 'er the forward arid upper' and lower faces di the article' with pdtioris of the wrapper'extend'ing endw'is'e from said faces, pairs of rolls positioned' in Athe patl`l'- of advance of the extending end portions of' the wratten said rolls having spacedpe'riplie'ral portions makirl'g" an rolling"- 'rig'agit With the eiid d'ierlsioifis"v of? the wrapper tl'ie plane of one of the twets and traveling in a path in part coinciding with the rectilinear portion of the path of travel ofA said first conveyor, the pockets of the first conveyor traveling in interproximal relation with the pockets of the second conveyor through the coinciding portions of their paths of travel, means to continuously drive said conveyors, a third conveyor carrying spaced ejector fingers and traveling in a path in part coinciding lwith the coinciding portions of the paths of travel of the first and second conveyors, the `ejector `fingers entering said coinciding portions in interproximal relation with the pockets of the first two conveyors and leading the pockets of the rst conveyor, said fingers being in alignment with the spaces between the transversely spaced members of the pockets on the first conveyor, and means to drive said third conveyor continuously and at-a speed less than the speed of the first two conveyors to cause the bridging portions of the |articles in the pockets of the first conveyor to be engaged by said lingers and transferred thereby to the adjacent following pocket of the second conveyor.

13. In a wrapping machine, a continuously traveling endless conveyor, spaced pockets carried by said conveyor and traveling in a path in part rectilinear for advancing an article :and its Wrapper, with a portion of the wrapper extending outwardly of the pocket, said pockets each including transversely spaced members, the space between said members being bridged by the article in the pocket, a second continuously traveling endless conveyor carrying spaced pockets in a path in part coinciding with the rectilinear path of travel of the pockets of the rst conveyor, the pockets of said two conveyors advancing in interproximal relation through the coinciding portions of their travel, and means engaging the said briding portion of the articles in the pockets of the rst conveyor to transfer themv to the following pocket of the second conveyor, as

said pockets advance in interproximal relation,

of the second conveyor opening forwardly and rearwardly, means to transfer the partially wrapped articles from the article advancing members of the first conveyor to the adjacent following pockets of the second conveyor through the forward openings of said pockets to complete the wrapping of the articles, a drum about which the second conveyor travels, said drum being formed with spaced grooves in which said pockets mesh, and a stationary member engaging the leading edge of the articles to discharge them from the pockets through the rear pocket opening and onto the surface of the drum between the grooves, said surface being inclined togmove the discharged article thereon radially outward of the drum and free of the conveyor.

15. In a wrapping machine, an endless conveyor carrying spaced pockets having forward and rearward openings, means to move partially wrapped articles into said pockets through the forward openings thereof to complete the Wrapping of the articles, a drum about which the conveyor travels, said drum being formed with spaced grooves in which said pockets mesh, and a stationary member engaging the leading edge of the articles to discharge them from the pockets through the rear pocket opening and onto the surface of the drum between the grooves, said surface being inclined to move the discharged article thereon radially outward of the drum and free of the conveyor.

16. In a wrapping machine, a plurality of successive, continuously traveling, endless conveyors, each conveyor carrying spaced means for continuously advancing an article and its wrapper through successive wrapping instrumentalities of the machine, the end portions of adjacent conveyors overlapping, and the article advancing means of the adjacent conveyors being positioned thereon to move in interproximal relation with each other through the overlapping portions of the travel of the conveyors to permit transfer of the articles and their wrappers between adjacent article advancing means while traveling in said relation.

EDWARD F. CORNOCK. FRANKLIN B. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,572,256 Van Buren Feb. 9, 1926 2,486,892 Sumida June 27, 1946 

